I want them to win, but I also want the series with Toronto to go 5 games and all of their games to go to extra innings.
Toronto falling apart in the first. 2-0 Rangers already, they just botched a rundown to let the 2nd run score.
If this holds up... and the Cubs lay it on the Cardinals later... there will be ample evidence for the added playoff benefit that teams get by playing pressure-packed games through the end of the regular season. I don't think either the Astros or the Rangers are feeling any sort of "pressure" right now... or at least not any more than the Astros just faced up in Seattle (where they did look noticeably tight at times), or what the Rangers faced against the Angels.
Fielder at 3rd has his head up his ample arse, gets hung up on a grounder to first, double play to end the inning. 2-0, Hamels on the hill.
Sure could be, there's been teams that coasted into the playoffs who also played well there, teams that cratered to end the season and then just turned it on, etc.... But yeah, there's no downside to playing meaningful games late in September, especially for a young team. As long as you win enough of them.
I also think its transient... lasts 1-2 games max before the other (rested) team gets back into a groove. All teams are on an even playing field (momentum/pressure wise) by the LCS'.
I hate that little pissant Odor, but man that kid is smart and plays hard. He just went 1st to 3rd on a chopper fielded by the pitcher. As I'm typing he just tagged and scored with a great slide despite a perfect throw. Manufactured a run pretty much by himself. I have a bad feeling that he's going to be an annoyance for years, ala Fernando Vina & others. Costas is going off on the replay challenge when the runner is safe but slightly/momentarily comes off the bag. Good for him, I hate that crap, it's not what replay was instituted for.
Yeah, I'd like them to consider amending this to the "neighborhood" play that is also not challengeable. If you slide off the bag completely... that's one thing... but if you're safe at the bag/beat the throw and you just happen to microscopically pop up, the play should already be over. They could easily change the rule to say "initial tag" is reviewable only (i.e. - did the throw/tag actually beat the runner)... not persistent tag that is kept on due to the occasional laws of physics that causes players to sometimes not be in perfect contact with a stationary object for a split-second (again, this does not apply if you just happen to slide way past the bag due to your own uncontrolled momentum).
Eh. If the runner comes off the bag, that should be challenged. Agree to disagree, but I think it's been one of the better outcomes of challenges. EDIT: And this is in reference to people that slide past the bag or do a pop slide.
Exactly. Costas said "he's been ruled safe for over 100 years, why are we changing it?", but I also agree with him that I don't blame managers for taking advantage of that loophole in critical situations. I agree with you, I think they will address that soon. One thing I just learned: in the playoffs, each manager has 2 replay challenges up to the 7th inning, after that you can request more but the crew chief has to call for the replay.
It will encourage more head-first slides... that will eventually lead to more injury. The pop-up slide is the safest technique to not only avoid sliding past the bag, but also avoid injury. Its really splitting hairs when they're challenging the literal "pop-up" portion of the slide that already beat the tag, and I agree this was not what replay was intended for.
Comes off clean sure, but the pop up slide has been around for decades. At no point did anybody complain about it, or try to argue. I'm with Nick on the neighborhood call.
I actually think we matchup fairly well with the Blue Jays. Don't really care who we face, both are really good teams.
